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As you drive into Grimsby, one of the first things you spot is its iconic landmark - the Dock Tower.

Many of you have been brave and abseiled down the sides of it for various charity groups and organisations and in June 2012, it was the starting place for the Olympic relay baton in the town for day two of the torch procession.

What is its purpose?

April 1961 air view of the Dock Tower and various dock buildings (Image: Grimsby Telegraph)

Completed on March 27, 1852 - Grimsby Dock Tower is almost 168 years old.

The ground floor of the tower was lined with pink, white and blue drapery when Queen Victoria came with Prince Albert to visit the dock and officially open the tower, two years later, in October, 1854.

Her Majesty gave permission for Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal to accompany Mr Randel in the hydraulic lift to the gallery running around the tower to view the surrounding areas.

Although seen now as a maritime landmark, it was built as a hydraulic accumulator tower, for the purpose of containing a 30,000-imperial-gallon (140,000 L) reservoir at a height of 200 feet (61 m).

It provided hydraulic power to assist the machinery of the Grimsby Dock such as the lock gates, 15 quayside cranes (at the time) and sluices. Small pumps topped up the tank as the hydraulic machinery drew off water.

It also helped to supply fresh water to ships and to houses within the dock premises.

The now Grade I listed tower was designed by James William Wild who based its appearance on that of the Torre del Mangia on the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena.

It was built under the supervision of J. M. Rendel, who was the civil engineer in charge of construction of the Royal Dock.

It is believed that around one million bricks were used in its construction - the tower stands 309 feet (94 m) high, is 28 feet (8.5 m) wide at the base, and tapers gradually to 26 feet (7.9 m),

Below the first projection, its walls are 4 feet (1.2 m) thick and narrow to 3 feet (0.91 m) at the string course under the corbels.

The bricks of this plain brick tower were made from clay obtained from excavations in the marsh adjoining the docks, and are set in blue lime mortar.

Hoop iron bond is used in the walls to a considerable extent, whilst the foundation of the tower is a solid masonry wall, built upon a timber bearer piling.

Grimsby's Dock Tower, taken from a ship's bridge (Image: David Shreeve)

The water was obtained via a cast iron pipe thirteen inches in diameter from a well, 15 ft (4.6 m) in diameter and 47 ft (14 m) deep, with a boring of 5 in (130 mm) in diameter to the chalk rock in the centre, situated near to the flyover on Cleethorpe Road.

The well was also fed by seven borings of 5 in (130 mm) in diameter, at intervals in a length of 300 ft (91 m), which discharged into the well by a brick culvert 3 ft (0.91 m) in diameter.

Water was then forced into the tank by two force pumps, each of ten inches in diameter, worked by a duplicate, horizontal engine of twenty-five horse power. The engines, pumps and pipes and the whole of the machinery were fabricated by Mr Mitchell of the Perran Foundry, Cornwall.

The Dock Tower continued to provide water until 1892, when the erection of the hydraulic accumulator tower on the opposite pier approximately 200 feet (61 m) took over. Today, dock and all lock machinery are powered by electric or electro-hydraulic energy. The tower is the subject of a Preservation Order.

Key events

Alan Ellinson abseiling with the Olympic Flame down the side of the Royal Dock Tower in Grimsby at the beginning of Day 40 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay (Image: Joe Giddens/LOCOG/PA Wire)

In June 1931, the tower survived an earthquake centred offshore on Dogger Bank (6.1 on the Richter scale).

During the Second World War, there were plans to demolish the tower, as it acted as a beacon for German Luftwaffe aircraft heading towards Liverpool.

A plaque can be viewed paying tribute to the minesweeper crews of the war.

The brass memorial plaque to west side is inscribed: "1939 A tribute to those who swept the seas 1949".

The tower's lift is no longer in operation, with access to the top via a spiral staircase in one corner of the building. The second balcony is currently used for the transmission and reception of radio signals.

In June 1953, the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II had been planned as a massive local celebration. But down came the rain and washed many events out.

As part of the festivities the Dock Tower was lit for the first time in its 100-year history.

Legoland with the Grimsby dock tower in the foreground, Nickersons Mill, Corporation Bridge with the now dismantled cranes from the Royal Dock behind and the ABP dock offices partly hidden to the right (Image: Submitted Picture)

At Legoland in Windsor, there is a model of the Grimsby Dock Tower entirely constructed of Lego (though not entirely correct in its depiction due to the random building next to it).

It joins three other Grimsby buildings; the ABP port office, Flour Mills and Corporation Bridge.

In October 2013 - the tower featured in a relay, as part of National Poetry Day - The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner was read in full by 74 different contributors at locations around the country.

Grimsby Dock Tower made it onto the Grimsby version of Monopoly (Image: Grimsby Telegraph)

Also in February, 2015 - the Dock Tower image was used by Young's seafood when they rebranded their packaging.

Speaking at the time, Pete Ward, Young's Seafood chief executive, said: "It is wonderful to see the Grimsby seascape so beautifully reflected through our master brand.

Young's Seafood incorporated the Dock Tower as part of their brand image

"The history and heritage of our business is important to everyone involved in Young's and we are delighted that, through this new branding, we will communicate that to all our customers when they purchase our frozen and chilled products."

During 2018, some of the bricks and mortar were replaced on the (1972) Grade I Listed building to secure the integrity of the structure.

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

The works saw historic reclaimed bricks of the same size and age as the dock tower, used as replacements for the existing brickwork.

Last year, Grimsby brewery Docks Beers launched Overtime, the only 4% lager ever to be brewed in Grimsby.

The striking red, black and white 440ml can features an illustrated docks scene with the ABP Port Office clock tower taking centre stage.

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